• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

Labour complain after Boris claims first class flights on expenses

November 6, 2013 by Martin Hoscik

city_hall_336Labour’s leader on the London Assembly has filed an official complaint after Mayor Boris Johnson claimed £4,000 for first class flights to the Gulf.

Len Duvall AM says the claim appears to breach City Hall rules which limit air travel to economy or economy-plus class “unless there are exceptional circumstances, like health-related matters.”

The Mayor visited the Gulf earlier this year when he lead a trade delegation to the region as part of efforts to secure inward investment to the capital.

Mr Duvall says he backs such visits but has accused the Mayor and senior advisors of “outrageous” behaviour in claiming for first class tickets.

In addition to Mr Johnson, the complaint covers claims for flights by the Mayor’s Chief Economic Adviser, Gerard Lyons and Transport Deputy Isabel Dedring who claimed £4,579 for a trip to New York where she represented the Mayor on official business.

Mr Duvall said: “Whilst Londoners are suffering from a cost of living crisis and some people have to choose between heating and eating, it is both disgraceful and immoral that Boris and his team would spend Londoners’ money in this way. I have lodged a formal complaint with the City Hall Monitoring Officer to get to the bottom of this.”

He added that if the Mayor’s team wanted to fly first class they should “waste their own money” rather than claim public funds.

Commenting on the complaint, a spokesperson for Mr Johnson said: “The Mayor is comfortable that these claims were within the rules. The complaint will be dealt with in due course.”

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: News

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy